Finding top-notch talent in a candidate-driven market is never easy, which is why it’s crucial to employ a proven recruitment strategy. With the many demands that HR teams have, managing day-to-day responsibilities can be a challenge—and searching for qualified candidates could take a back seat.
That’s why hiring a staffing partner, or intermediary between workers and companies seeking employees can be a prime investment. A staffing partner ultimately helps organizations find professionals that match their hiring needs.
By aligning with a strategic staffing partner who is invested in your company’s success, you’ll be better equipped to achieve your overall objectives.
The first step is locating and securing a staffing partner that is the right fit for your organization and culture.
How to choose the “right” staffing partner
Choosing the right provider is an important task that should not be taken lightly. When you partner with a staffing agency, keep in mind that they are an extension of your brand. You’ll want to ensure that the agency represents you in the right way because perception is everything. Furthermore, the candidate experience can greatly affect future job success and retention—hence why first impressions are so important.
The following are three key steps to take when selecting a staffing partner:
- Partner with someone you can trust. You want to work with a recruiter you can trust who will find you the best candidates for the organization. It’s all about building a long-term relationship, as well as ensuring a team fit for the company.
- Make sure the firm understands the company’s goals.
A right-fit partner is one that takes your company’s goals into consideration and has an in-depth understanding of your organization’s culture. Pro Tip: Start by reviewing 30, 60, and 90-day goals to make sure that you are properly aligned. - Select the right size agency. Are you seeking a small, boutique agency that focuses on niche roles, or do you desire a larger or more diverse supplier? Agencies that are more versatile can generally fill roles in multiple departments—lending themselves to be a better match.
Maximizing the value of your staffing partner
So, you’ve located and secured a staffing agency that you feel confident in—but how do you know if they are providing real value to your organization?
You may only call on the staffing firm when you have an open role to fill, but you’ll want to ensure that you are truly maximizing their potential.
The following are ways to make sure that you’re getting the full value of this relationship.
Understanding the services you offer
Are you seeking temp employees, part-time, full-time, or all of the above? The range of services can vary from firm to firm and by the size of the agency. Staffing firms can perform retained searches, contract recruiting, and handle hiring and onboarding for specific functions. This is known as recruitment process outsourcing (RPO) and can be handled in-house or outsourced offshore in some cases. Additionally, firms may also offer outplacement and payroll services. Knowing the menu of services offered, and selecting the right items off the menu from the start, will allow you to get more value.
Finding the best fit employees
It goes without saying that the more information you provide to your staffing partner, the higher the likelihood they will provide an employee(s) who fits your needs. When seeking a temp or employee, try to be as specific as possible. For example, if filling an administrative role, spell out the exact type of work and duties that the employee will be doing i.e. answering phones, conducting research, etc. Also, be sure to consider the skill sets and overall culture in your office.
Agreeing on price
In order to avoid any surprises, you want to make sure that you agree on the best price possible (ahead of time) without sacrificing quality.
Consider on-site management
If you have a large volume of recurring staffing needs, and need help with hiring, onboarding, and more, then you may want to consider having one or more members of the staffing agency sit on-site. This situation can be a win-win for all parties involved because face-to-face interactions make for a better employee-candidate experience.
Temp to perm hiring
This is one of the best ways to get value from a staffing firm. This approach can reduce the guesswork and risk while raising the odds of finding a candidate who fits well within your organization. It’s also a great opportunity for both you and the candidate to “try before you buy” and do a test run before committing to a job permanently.
The takeaway
Partnering with the right staffing agency can open the doors to building a great relationship, and ultimately be a game-changer for your organization. Just be sure that you know what to expect from the agency, and be prepared with what you bring to the table—in order to make the most of the collaborative partnership. When you are upfront and share your needs, a great staffing agency is one that will step up to the plate to represent your company.
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SURESTAFF is a top staffing agency in the light industrial and manufacturing space, and has been named one of Chicago’s largest privately held companies by Crain’s Business for the past four years; and, was named one of the fastest-growing staffing companies in the U.S. by SIA (Staffing Industry Analysts).
Our mission is to be the reliable, flexible, and compassionate staffing partner our clients and employees deserve. We are committed to delivering the highest quality workforce for our client’s individual needs. We help businesses and people work.
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About the Author
Kim 
is a seasoned content marketing professional with over twelve years of corporate communications experience. Her sweetspot is with creative writing both short and long-form. She has a proven track record working with IBM, Jackson Healthcare, and Walt Disney World, among others. Kim is a singer and actress and has been performing on stage and screen her entire life and has a great passion for TV and film production. Connect with Kim on LinkedIn.